Switch



July 27 1926.

a 3/ M mHH WITNESS:

C. H. SPAIN SWITCH Filed Feb. 20, 1925 r27 INVENTOR ATTORN EY v 1,594,215 PATENT OFFICEQQQ cant. HAMPTON srnnr, or TEMPE, ARIZONA.

SWITCH.

Application filed February 20, 1925. Serial No. 10,618.

This invention relates to an automatic switch for starters of internal combustion engines, the object of the invention being to provide a magnet for closing the switch of the starter circuit and an automatic relay for controlling the circuit of the magnetic switch.

. This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and s ecifically pointed out in the appended c aims. L

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a'circuit diagram showing the connections to the various electromagnetic. switches.

The magnetic switch for controlling the circuit of thestarting motor is shown at A and the relay for controlling the circuit of the magnetic switch is shown at B; The

switch A comprises a casing 1 which is preferably threaded to a cap 2 bolted to a plate 3 of non-conducting material, said plate carrying the terminals 4 which are arranged in the circuitof the starter motor. A switch member 5 is arranged in the cap 2 and is adapted to bridge the terminals 4 to close the circuit 17013118 starter motor. A stem 6- is fastened to the member .5 and passes through the bottom of the cap 2 and through a telesco ic housing 7, thestem being connected wit the movable part of said housing. A spring 8 is arranged-in the housin and tends to hold the movable part thereo in its lowest position with the member 5 out of engagement with the terminals.

' A magnet 9 is arranged in the casing 1 and a rod 10 forms the core or armature of said magnet. When the rod is actuated by cur-- rent flowing through the magnet its upper endwill strike themovable part' of the housing 7 and force the same upwardly against the action of the spring 8 and thus cause the switch member 5 to enga the ter-' minals 4 and close the circuit to t e starter.

motor. The upward movement of the rod 10 can be limitedby the disc 11 adjustably connected-with the lower end of the rod 10.

and a set screw. 12 passing through the lower end of the casing 1 forms an ad]ustable rest switch arm 19 which has one end pivotally connected to the lower part of a casing 20 which encloses the coils. This switch arm 19 carries a contact 20 which normally engages a stationary contact 21 which-is sup ported by a bracket 22 electrically connected with a. terminal 23 carried by the plate 11. This terminal is electrically connected with a magnet 9, as shown at 2 1, and a conductor 25 connects said terminal 23 with a solenoid 26, said solenoid being connected with the ground terminal 17 by the conductor 27.- The core 13 is connected with the battery C by the conductor 28 and a switch 29. may be connected with the conductor. A condenser 30 is connected by a :mductor 31 with the terminal of the core 13 and a conductor 32 connects the other side of the condenser with the terminal 23. denser will act to prevent sparks occurring at the contacts 20 and 21 when the arm 19 is raised. This arm is raised by the upward movement of the rod 33 which is connected with an iron core 34 slidably arranged in a tube 35 forming the center of the solenoid 26. When this solenoid is energized therod- 33 will be raised and as it strikes'the arm 19 it will cause the same to be raised and thus separate the contacts 20 and 21 and break the circuit through the coil 16. Then the coil 15 will cause the core 13 to at tract the switch arm 19 and thus hold said arm in raised position after the rod 33 has returned to its original position duet0 the lower part of the cylinder can be regulated;" and thus the upward movement of the rod 33 can be controlled, as it is-retarded-in its upward movement by the limited quantities This 'conof t e rod 33 and the the entrance of; the cylinder 35? By adjusting this of air flowing into the bottom of the cylinder below the valve. This air will pass between the valve andthe walls of the cylinder on the downward movement of the parts so that it will not check the lowering of the rod 33. i

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the motor is to be started through means of the starter motor it is simply necessary to close the switch 29 when current will flow from the battery through the core 13 and both coils 15 and 1.6 to ground. As the current passes through the 'coils in opposite directions the core will not attract the switch arm 19. That part of the current passing through the coil 16 will pass through the arm' 19, the contacts 20 and 21, bracket 22 to the terminal 23 where some of it will pass over the connections 24 to the magnet 9, energizing said magnet so as to cause the same to raise the rod 10 and thus raise the switch member 5 to close the circuit of the starter motor. Some of the current will also pass through the conductor 25 to the solenoid 26 causing said solenoid to raise the rod 33 which is retarded in its upward movement not only by the slow entrance of air into the cylinder but also by the voltage dro in the battery due to the starting up of t e starter motor. When the motor starts the load is taken from the starter which raises the voltage on the battery so that more current flows to the solenoid 26 and then the rod 33 moves more quickly to a position where it will strike the arm 19 and separate the contacts 20 and 21. This will break the circuit to the solenoid 26 and to the magnet 9 and as no current is flowing through the coil 16 the flow of current through the coil 15 will cause the core 13 to act on the switch arm 19 and thus hold the same raised even though the rod 33 has moved from under the same. The parts will remain in this position until the switch 29 is opened when the circuit to the device will be broken and the switch arm 19 will drop to its original, position when the parts will be ready to start up the starter motor upon the closin I of the switch 29.

With this invention better contact through the starter circuit can be made with the magnetic switch than can be made with the ordinary foot switch now in use. This will increase the life of the starter switch contacts, it also makes the starter switch autouse of an ordinary switch installed at some convenient place, for instance, as on the steering column, to operate the starter switch with a greater degree/of ease than is pos- I sible with the foot switch.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is l. A device of the class described including a relay comprising a core, a pair of coils associatedwith the core, means for causing current to pass through the coils in opposite directions, a normally closed switch in the circuit of one coil, a solenoid in the said circuit and means 0 erated by the solenoid for opening the switc to cause the other coil to hold the switch open.

2. A device of the class described including a relay comprising a core, a pair of coils associated with the core, means for causing current to pass thru the coils in opposite directions, a normally closed switch in the circuit of one coil, a solenoid in said circuit, means operated by the solenoid for opening the switch to cause the other coil to hold the switch open and means for regulating the movement of the solenoid operating means.

3. A device of the class described including a relay comprising a core, a pair of coils associated with the core, means for causing current to pass thru the coils in opposite directions, a normally closed switch in the circuit of one coil, means operated by the solenoid for opening the switch to cause the other coil to hold the switch open, means for regulating'the movement of the solenoid operating means and a condenser arranged in the circuit of the coil which is provided with the switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 

